Connecticut western news., 1887-02-23
SING SING.
A Pen View of the Celebrated
 Prison on the Hudson.
Warden Brush Chats About Important
 Prisoners in His Charge.

Warden Brush Chats About Important
 Prisoners in His Charge.
 A reporter for the Mail and Express who went up to Sing Sing had chat with Warden Brush about some of his important charges. He says ex-alderman Jaehne is one of the best men he ever had for prisoner. From the very be ginning of his sentence he has obeyed every rule to the letter.
 'In fact" said the warden, Che secm- ed anxious to learn exactly what he ought to do, and to-day he is exactly like clock-work. His health has i'm proved with the regular living. and his appetite is something pleasant to behold. He punishes prison fare as if he had been accustomed to it all his life. That is the only way for man to get along in prison. He must look at the situation from standpoint of philoso- pher and say to himself: 'I am here and might as we'll make the best of a bad bargain" Jaehne seems to be that sort of man. understand that he was an inveterate smoker of good cigars before coming here. Still he enjoys pipe which we allow him in the evening with as much gusto as if it were Reina. But Ferdinand Ward, he is the most persistent worker for trifling privileges which we cannot allow him that you ever heard of. If he wants cigar he will try to get it, although it is against the rules, and any keeper showing favor in this respect would be dealt with sum- marily. Ward will resort to all little schemes in order to accomplish an ob- ject. He will not accept defeat. Of course he is treated the same as any other convict, but he is not will ing to be as Jaehne is. Prisoners are allowed to read books and magazines, and we have quite large library here, but newspapers are not al- lowed. Some of the prisoners will get them, however. A wife will send her husband book. We'll, inside the cover, perhaps, she has concealed a newspaper, or portion of one, and when she hands it to him at her visit, which we allow every two months, he is ready to understand the slightest sign from her, although a keeper stands right by in the room with them.
 ''You would be surprised at the mem ory of an intelligent prisoner. When not at work and not reading, they have nothing to do but think, and they are ever on the alert for news from the out side world. If convict were to pass through this hall now for instance, and hear you let drop word, he would be able to guess at the whole conversation and tell his friends about it. It IS in. stinct. We rarely have trouble witt men of intelligence. They readily understand the rules and know that the best way to get along is to fol low them. It is the tough that usually I
 never succeeds in this institution. Bud
 densiek, the man who was sent here fo
 building mud houses, was an exception
 He was SO sure that he would get out il
 little while that he tried to carry ol
 his business. This we could not allow
 He was always wanting to see some o
 his friends about his building enter
 prises, and have no doubt that if h
 had been allowed to give orders to hi
 foreman every morning as he desired hi business would have continued to pros per. He would not put it in any on } else's hands until the Court of Appeal. decided that the verdict must stand Now he is resigned"
 While the warden was talking thre prisoners came through the doorwa l from below. They were no longe , prisoners when they entered the wa, den's office. Their terms had just ez } pired. They were dressed in clothin
 cut by Fifth avenue tailor, and felt a . proud as could be. They bowed to tn f Warden and walked out into the world : free men.
 a 'It looks queer for prisoner withou = money or friends to leave here with ] hundred dollar suit on his back, but o,
 casionally they do. When man come f here his clothing is confscated. It = renovated and, if need be, repaired, an :, hung up for future inspection. The fir. | prisoner discharged is entitled to pic y out any suit of clothes he takes fanc d to. If there is nothing to fit him W furnish him with new suit. There
 a man walking about New York to-ds !, wearing Jaehne's spring overcoat whic @ he had on when he came here, and som le other ex-convict selected his trouser
 Another took the Prince Albert coat an d some one else chose the vest of the e. ct alderman. They were all of the fine It quality. Money and jewelry are alwa. of returned to prisoner at the expiratit - of his term. It frequently happens tn
 when a man is sent here the second tin
 he will bring along all his money ar
 jewelry, knowing that the State is I ae sponsible for them. Sing Sing is n